Three In The Morning

Many years ago in China, in the state of Sòng 宋,

during the third century

in what is now known as the Warring States Period (Zhàn​ Guó 战国),

(a particularly uncertain and unstable period in Chinese history),

there once lived an old man

who enjoyed caring for monkeys.

Every day he would talk with the monkeys and so, over time, he and the monkeys learned to communicate with one another.

The old man was not wealthy, and so when hard economic times came upon the land, it became very difficult to feed all of the animals he had brought under his care.

So deep was his commitment to care for the monkeys though, that he would rather go hungry himself, than see them without food.

One particular year, the state of Sòng suffered a severe famine, and so the old man had to drastically ration the monkey’s food.

He went to the monkeys and tried to explain,

“My dear friends, I am sorry, but hard times have come upon the land and thus I must ration your food.

Until things improve, I will only be able to give you three chestnuts in the morning and four in the afternoon.”

Well, the monkeys were furious and rose up in outrage and violent protest.

The old man raised his hands to silence the monkeys,

“Fair enough, fair enough!

Dear friends, I feel your outrage and so I tell you what I will do.

I will give you four chestnuts in the morning and three in the afternoon.

Does that suit you better?”

The monkeys immediately quieted — ceased their protestations, relaxed and reclined upon the ground, — content with the new arrangement.

mac’s field notes:

The idiom “Three in the morning, four in the afternoon” or sometimes simply “Three in the morning,” is a well known idiom in Chinese culture.

Today in China, it has come to often refer to people who are fickle, unstable and inconsistent —

always discontent —

always changing their minds.

However, originally this story was more of a profound, satirical commentary —

a parable about the nature of the false, acquired, conditioned, conceptual sense of self —

what is often referred to these days as “the ego” —

what we often naively identify as,

“human nature.”

For often humans be-ing,

throughout the recorded human history of this last age,

have notoriously behaved

as creatures of dissatisfaction,

and thus seemingly,

no matter what the situation —

no matter how good we may seem to have it —

there are those who have a proclivity

to focus on that which seems ‘wrong,’ ‘flawed,’ ‘broken’ or ‘evil’—

who have a propensity to dissatisfaction and discontent —

like the fear-filled ‘Henny Penny,’

of European lore,

and its North American relative,

‘Chicken Little’

who always seemed to find a reason

to fear the worst —

incessantly moaning and wailing,

“The sky is falling!

The sky is falling!”

It is this precarious state of fear-filled —

fear-fueled

dis-ease —

dis-pleasure —

dis-satisfaction —

arising from the ceaseless contrivations and machinations

of the discursive mind —

the false, acquired, conditioned, conceptual sense of self —

the

not

self

—

that then opens the door…

for

manipulation

and

exploitation.

Shrewd, savvy, artful leaders instinctively and intuitively perceive these particular aspects of the conditioned human nature and how to influence, manipulate and even exploit fear, aversion, craving, desire and addiction.

Whether politicians, financial leaders, business leaders, religious leaders, journalists, authors, marketing specialists, media influencers, and yes…even some parents,

those that perceive the propensities and proclivities

of the false, acquired, conditioned, conceptual sense of self

can easily influence, manipulate and exploit—

either for the health, well-being, benefit and highest good of all —

or more commonly —

for their own profit and advantage —

for their own power, prestige, position, privilege, wealth, and control.

The first century CE Greek-speaking Turkish philosopher, Epictetus once commented,

“Any person capable of stirring up strong emotions (such as fear and anger) in you, becomes your master.”

Since all negative emotions, and unhealthy, compulsive habits, patterns and addictions of consciousness

(if you follow the roots back far enough)

arise from the deep root of original fear —

the primal existential fear for our own security and survival —

the primal existential fear of experiencing pain, displeasure, discomfort —

and ultimately…

the primal existential fear of our own cessation, extinction, or annihilation

(what we perceive of as “death”) —

perhaps we might also say,

“Any one

or any thing

capable of disturbing you

(in any way)

can manipulate you —

control you —

exploit you —

and thus in doing so...

enslave you —

and

become

your

master.”

Fear, anxiety, vexation, anger and discontent are closely related.

The monkeys in this parable were happy enough —

content when their safety, security and survival was unquestioned.

However, when the cold, harsh mistral winds of change and uncertainty began to blow and the monkeys felt their safety, security and survival threatened,

primal fear awoke within them

and the volatile emotions of anger, outrage and discontent expressed that fear —

manifesting outwardly as anger, outrage, chaos, confusion, conflict, and violence.

Yet, the wise, compassionate caretaker,

perceiving simian nature —

the nature of monkeys and apes —

was able to influence (manipulate) the situation —

not for harm —

but for the common good —

to keep the monkeys safe and happy

and to restore peace and harmony in the tribe,

while they weathered the geo-political-economic storm.

And though this story is thousands of years old now,

the profound lessons still have not lost their pith, potency and pertinence.

If perhaps, we give some time to re-read this story mindfully —

sitting in silent contemplation

to inquire into its profound life lessons —

we might perhaps discover insights and guidance relevant

for our own experience of Life,

as well as to the collective challenges and difficulties

facing human kind —

as we navigate this particular, apparent turbulent, tumultuous, tremulous time and season —

as we weather the storm

which has seemingly beset us

with such unabashed, unabated, unrelenting force.

So, wherever your path may lead you —

and whatever you may experience —

as you journey along the Way —

may your every step —

your every breath —

be peace, light and Infinite, Ineffable Love...

whether

three in the morning

or

four

in

the

afternoon.

/|\

With gratitude and respect to Anderson Mancini for licensing his photograph Three Wise Monkeys with a Creative Commons license so that I may share it with you today.

If you would like to view more of Anderson’s work, you can do so here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ektogamat/